Water jacketed exhaust attachment for internal combustion engine



Oct. 1, 1963 H. E. ESTY WATER JACKETED EXHAUST ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 20. 1960 INVENTOR. l/owapo f. 'sry BYTIOQ/YEYS VIIIIIIII'IA 4 United States Patent 3,105,703 WATER JACKETEI)EXHAUST ATTACHMENT FUR INTERNAL COMEUSTEGN ENGHNE Howard E. Esty, 67Lynde St, Old Saybrook, Conn. Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 23,455 9Claims. (Cl. 28541) This invention relates to an attachment for theexhaust of an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to awater jacket structure especially adapted for use on marine engines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust systemfor inboard marine engines which is of inexpensive construction, can beeasily installed by anyone, without special skills, and is adaptable toall types of installations.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hot Water system forboats which utilizes the heat from the engine exhaust while at the sametime provides good sound suppressing qualities for the exhaust andabsorbs engine vibration.

The device of the present invention can be used for through deck or hullexhaust systems, is adapted for special curves, etc. in theinstallation, and reduces fire hazards.

Briefly the invention relates to an exhaust attachment for an internalcombustion engine which is comprised of a flexible metal tube having endfittings aflixed to each end thereof with flange means on the fittingsfor interconnecting the tube at one end to the exhaust manifold of theengine and at the other end to a venting means. Each of the fittingsincludes a tubular portion of greater diameter than the tube which ismounted at one end on the associated flange coaxial with the tube andopens axially inwardly from the end thereof. Rubber hose encases orsurrounds the metal tube in a concentric relation therewith and isconnected at its ends to the respective tubular portions to provide anannular fluidpassage in the space between it and the flexible metaltube. A plurality of fiber glass rope spacers are disposedlongitudinally within the passage at spaced radial positions relative toone another and are affixed at their ends to the respective endfittings. Fluid inlet and outlet connections are provided on therespective fittings communiacting with the passage. Perforatedperipheral guard flanges are disposed on each fitting, overlying theadjacent end portion of the tube and are interposed between the tube andsaid spacers, to assist in anchoring the spacers to the end fittingswhile protecting the ends of the flexible metal tube from pressure fromthe spacers and insuring that any bending of the flexible metal tubewill be axially inward from the junction thereof with the end fitting.

In a modified embodiment perpiheral holes are provided on one of thefittings interconnecting the passage with the interior of the tube. Thisis normally provided at the discharge end of the exhaust attachment togive a wet exhaust.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in thefollowing description and claims, and in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of an exhaust attachmentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partially sectioned side elevation of a modifiedform of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevation of another embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 the exhaust attachment is indicated generally by thereference numeral and it is comprised of an inner flexible metal tube 11which may be of the bellows type as shown or any other flexible metalcon- 3,105,708 Patented Get. 1, 1963 "ice struction having fluid tightcharacteristics along its length. The tube 11 is afiixed at its ends toend fittings 12 and 13 respectively by attachment to inwardly extendingrespective tube members 14 and 15 by brazing or the like. Flange member16 on fitting 12, affixed to the outer end 17 (or to the left as viewedin FIG. 1) of tube member 14, by any convenient means such as threadedengagement, is adapted for connection to the exhaust manifold (notshown) of the engine. Flange 17a on fitting 13 is similarly connected totube member 15 and is adapted for connection to the deck or hullopening, or other venting means 18. Thus the attachment has an intakeend 19 and a discharge end 20.

End fittings 12, 13 also have tubular jacket portions or members 21, 22which are of greater diameter than tube members 14, 15 and are mountedcoaxially therewith on the associated fitting. Jacket member 21 has aninner closed end 23 mounted at a spaced position from the adjacentflange 16 to facilitate aligning the bolt holes (not shown) of flange 16during installation on an engine block (not shown) by rotation of theflange, which may be either a floating or threaded flange. Thisarrangement is desirable to permit interconnection of the exhaustattachment between two units without putting a radial strain on theflexible metal hose 11 in aligning the flange bolt holes. Both jacketmembers 21, 22 have axially inward open ends 24, 25.

Rubber hose 26 concentrically encases metal tube 11 and is connected atits ends 27, 28 to jacket members 21, 22 by conventional means such ashose clamps 29 to provide an annular fluid passage 30 between it and theflexible metal tube. Spacers, for example, heat resistant rope 31, suchas rope made of fiber glass or the like are disposed longitudinally inpassage 30 at spaced radial positions relative to one another toseparate the rubber hose 26 from direct thermal contact with the metaltube 11 during use. (See also FIG. 2.) Inwardly extending guard flanges32 are mounted at the inner ends 33 of the tube members 14, 15 andoverlie the extreme end portions 34 of the metal tube to preventmechanical pressure of the spacers 31 on, and otherwise protect, thetube 11 at these points. The guard flanges 32 may have holes 35 or otherperforations around their periphery to enhance cooling of end portions34.

The spacers 31 are aflixed at their ends 36 to the tube members 14, 15by any suitable means such as wire 37 etc.

Fluid inlet and outlet connectors 3%, 39 are provided on the jacketmembers 21, 22 which communicate with the internal passage 30.

In use the engine exhaust gases pass from the intake end 19, through theinterior of the metal tube 11, and out the discharge end 20 to theatmosphere. Water is passed through the annular passage 30 and is heatedby the exhaust gases thereby cooling the latter. The water may either bepassed in through fluid connection 38 and out fluid connection 39 or theflow may be reversed, depending on choice. This exhaust system can beused with fresh water as the cooling liquid to provide a hot fresh watersupply on the boat, or it may also be used with raw or fresh water toimplement a heating system. The end fittings, flexible metal tube, andthe hose may be made of corrosion resistant metals such as bronze,brass, Monel, copper or the like, or suitable combinations of suchmetals being of the type adapted for continuous operation from about 40F. to over 250 F. All of the materials of course can be varied dependingon the specific requirements of any particular installation.

Either end or any type of flange or end connection can be used for theinlet or outlet in dry exhaust use. For wet exhaust with the aboveembodiment any type of end,

p out to the atmosphere in the direction of arrow A.

e.g. flange, threaded nipple, etc. may be used on the inlet side. On thewet or outlet end tube 11 may be connected to the remaining exhaustsystem, i.e., wet mufiler, exhaust pipe or hose, through bull, or anyother necessary parts.

The above embodiment, although shown in FIG. 1 in a straightinstallation, can be mounted in practically any configuration, straightor curved, since the overall structure can be bent along thelongitudinal axis through a considerable arc.

As shown in FIG. 3, it may be desirable to have a wet exhaust, in whichcase the tube member of the end fitting has perforations therein such asholes :9 around its periphery so that the fluid medium in the annularpassage 30 passes into the interior of the metal tube '11 at thedischarge end and passes with the exhaust gases In the latter embodimentno fluid outlet connector need be included on the tubular jacket portion22. This latter variation in structure is used normally where the deviceis not used to provide hot water for any purposes previously mentioned.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 utilizes, in place of the flexible metalhose, a device in which an inflexible metal tube 41 is used. All otherelements of the structure are the same as the first embodiment. It is tobe understood that some elements may be made of one piece of material orthey may be made in sections and fastened together. For example and asshown in FIG. 4, the metal tube 41 may be of one piece with the tubemembers 114 and 15 on the end fittings. This structure may likewise usea discharge end fitting as shown in FIG. 1 or that shown in FIG. 3. Itis to be understood that those discharge end fittings shown in FIGS. 3and 4 would also employ flanges 17 as shown in FIG. 1 or some similarmeans.

The structure of FIG. 4 is normally used where it is not necessary tohave complete flexibility throughout the exhaust attachment and thedevice is made for a particular configuration and size. It may be eitherlongitudinally curved as shown or may be straight or any other shape asdesired.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and describedit is to be understood that changes and additions may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention. For example, the rubber hose may be made of plastic or othermodern equivalents of rubber for hose construction.

What is claimed is:,

1. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to a venting means, a water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting, a second fitting, saidfittings each having a tube member thereon, a metal tube aflixed at itsrespective ends to each said tube member so as to interconnect saidfirst fitting and said second fitting, a tubular jacket member disposedon each said fitting having a greater diameter than said tube member, arubberlike hose receiving said metal tube and being connected at itsends to said jacket members to provide an annular fluid passage betweensaid hose and said metal tube and a plurality of spacers disposed withinsaid passage and afiixed at their ends to said first and secondfittings.

2. In a marine exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifoldof an inboard marine internal combustion engine to a venting means on ahull of a marine vessel, a water jacketed connector attachmentcomprising a first fitting having an end mounting means, a secondfitting having an end mounting means, said fittings each having aninwardly extending tube member thereon, a metaltube afiixed at itsrespective ends to each said tube member so as to interconnect saidfirst fitting and said second fitting, a tubular jacket member disposedon each said fitting having a greater diameter than said tube member andbeing concentrically disposed relative thereto, a rubber-like hosereceiving said metal tube and being connected at its ends to said jacketmembers to provide an annular fluid passage between said hose and saidmetal tube and a plurality of heat resistant rope spacers longitudinallydisposed within said passage and afiixed at their ends to said first andsecond fittings and fluid inlet and outlet connectors on said fittingscommunicating with said passage. 7

3. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to 'a venting means, a water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting having an end mountingmeans, a second fitting having an end mounting means, said fittings eachhaving an inwardly extending tube member thereon, a flexible metal tubeaflixed at its respective ends to each said tube member so as tointerconnect said first fitting and said second fitting, a tubularjacket member disposed on each said fitting having a greater diameterthan said tube member, arubber-like hose receiving said metal tube andbeing connected at its ends to said jacket members to provide an annularfluid passage between said hose and said metal tube, a plurality of heatresistant rope spacers longitudinally disposed within said passage andaflixed at their ends to said first and second fittings and fluid inletand outlet connectors on said fittings communicating with said passage.

4. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to a venting means, a water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting having an end flangemeans,

a second fitting having an end flange means, said fittings each havingan inwardly extending tube member thereon, a flexible metal tube affixedat its respective ends to each said tube member so as to interconnectsaid first fitting and said second fitting, a tubular jacket memberdisposed on each said fitting having a greater diameter than said tubemember and being concentrically disposed relative thereto, a rubber hosereceiving said metal tube and being connected at its ends to said jacketmembers to provide an annular fluid passage between said hose and saidmetal tube, a plurality of fiber glass heat resistant rope spacerslongitudinally disposed within said passage at circumferentially spacedpositions relative to one another and aflixed at their ends to saidfirst and second fittings, fluid inlet and outlet connectors on saidfittings communicating with said passage.

5. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to a venting means, a Water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting having an end mountingmeans, a second fitting having an end mounting means, said fittings eachhaving an inwardly extending tube member thereon, a flexible metal tubeaflixed at its respective ends to each said tube member so as tointerconnect said first fitting and said second fitting, a tubularjacket member disposed on each said fitting having a greater diameterthan said tube member and being concentrically disposed relativethereto, a rubber-like hose receiving said metal tube and beingconnected at its ends to said jacket members to provide an annular fluidpassage between said hose and said metal tube, a plurality of fiberglass heat resistant rope spacers longitudinally disposed within saidpassage at circumferentially spaced positions relative to one anotherand aifixed at their ends to said first and second fittings, fluid inletand outlet connectors on said fittings communicating with said passage,and a guard flange on the inner end of each tube member overlying therespective end portion of said metal tube and interposed between saidmetal tube and said spacers.

6. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to a venting means, a water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting having an end mountingmeans, a second fitting having an end mounting means, said fittings eachhaving an inwardly extending tube member thereon,

a fiexible metal tube afiixed at its respective ends to each said tubemember so as to interconnect said first fitting and said second fitting,a tubular jacket member disposed on each said fitting having a greaterdiameter than said tube member and being concentrically disposedrelative thereto, a rubber-like hose receiving said metal tube and beingconnected at its ends to said jacket members to provide an annular fluidpassage between said hose and said metal tube, means on one of said tubemembers for interconnecting said passage with the interior of said metaltube, a plurality of heat resistant rope spacers longitudinally disposedwithin said passage at circumferentially spaced positions relative toone another and afiixed at their ends to said first and second fittings,a fluid inlet connector on one of said fittings communicating with saidpassage, and a guard flange on the inner end of each tube memberoverlying the respective end portion of said metal tube and interposedbetween said metal tube and said spacers.

7. In an exhaust system carrying gases from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine to a venting means, a water jacketedconnector attachment comprising a first fitting having end mountingmeans, a second fitting having an end mounting means, said fittingshaving an inwardly extending tube member thereon, a metal tube afiixedat its respective ends to said tube members so as to interconnect saidfirst and second end fittings, a tubular jacket member disposed on eachsaid fitting having a greater diameter than said tube member and beingdisposed substantially concentrically relative thereto, a rubber-likehose receiving said metal tube and being clamped at its ends around saidjacket members to provide an annular fluid passage between said hose andsaid metal tube, a plurality of heat resistant rope spacerslongitudinally disposed within said passage at circumferentially spacedpositions relative to one another and clamped at their ends to said tubemembers of said first and second end fittings, fluid inlets and outletson said fittings communicating with said passage, the tubular jacketmember of one of said end fittings having a diameter at least as largeas any non-removable portion of that fitting whereby said rubber-likehose may be unclamped from both of said tubular jacket members andaxially moved past that end fitting to disassembled said exhaustattachment.

8. The Water jacketed connector attachment of claim 3 in which a guardflange is attached to the inner end of each tube member overlying therespective end portion of said metal tube and interspaced between saidmetal tube and said spacers.

9. The water jacketed connector attachment of claim 1 in which thetubular jacket member of one of said end fittings has a diameter atleast as large as any nonremovable portion of that fitting whereby thesaid rubberlike hose may be unclamped from both of said tubular jacketmembers and axially moved past that end fitting to disassemble saidexhaust attachment for inspection, cleaning or repair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,231,208 Semrnler June 26, 1917 1,374,307 McKissick Apr. 12, 19211,527,310 Kinzbach Feb. 24, 1925 1,535,209 Dubbs Apr. 28, 1925 2,204,294Blanchard June 11, 1940 2,240,413 Parker Apr. 29, 1941 2,344,582 AlleeMar. 21, 1944 2,424,221 Brown July 22, 1947 2,449,052 Brown Sept. 14,1948 2,475,635 Parsons July 12, 1949 2,675,414 Capita Apr. 13, 19542,683,592 Birney June 13, 1954 2,896,669 Broadway et al July 28, 19592,935,039 Thompson May 3, 1960 2,956,586 Zeigler et al Oct. 18, 1960

1. IN AN EXHAUST SYSTEM CARRYING GASES FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF ANINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE TO A VENTING MEANS, A WATER JACKETEDCONNECTOR ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A FIRST FITTING, A SECOND FITTING, SAIDFITTINGS EACH HAVING A TUBE MEMBER THEREON, A METAL TUBE AFFIXED AT ITSRESPECTIVE ENDS TO EACH SAID TUBE MEMBER SO AS TO INTERCONNECTD SAIDFIRST FITTING AND SAID SECOND FITTING, A TUBULAR JACKET MEMBER DISPOSEDON EACH SAID FITTING HAVING A GREATER DIAMETER THAN SAID TUBE MEMBER, ARUBBERLIKE HOSE RECEIVING SAID METAL TUBE AND BEING CONNECTED AT ITSENDS TO SAID JACKET MEMBERS TO PROVIDE AN ANNULAR FLUID PASSAGE BETWEENSAID HOSE AND SAID METAL TUBE AND A PLURALITY OF SPACERS DISPOSED WITHINSAID PASSAGE AND AFFIXED AT THEIR ENDS TO SAID FIRST AND SECONDFITTINGS.